Middletown Lions lend hand to Mississippi Katrina victims

Middletown Lions lend hand to Mississippi Katrina victims

By JIM PURCELL

In Middletown, the Lion’s Club is making a difference in the life of Mississippi residents by helping to rebuild the homes of some of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Though the Katrina took place in September, 2005, the impacts of the storm were far-reaching and exist until this day.

“The Middletown Lion’s Club gave $5,000 to the Biloxi Lion’s Club,” said Al Siano, the public relations officer for the Middletown club.

According to Siano, the Middletown Lions conducted a fundraiser at Caraabba’s restaurant, Route 35 in the township, on Sunday, Sept. 16.

Siano said the group raised the funds and sent a delegation of Middletown Lions officers and members to the region.

The members included: Beverly Bova Scarano, Bill Bechtodlt and John Giordano. The three presented the check to the members of the Biloxi club on Monday, Sept. 24th during a brief ceremony.

“The Lions are 1.4 million members strong across the globe, in 194 countries. The group has a traditional focus on preventing blindness and serving the blind. However, the Lions are there to face the needs of society at-large, based upon the perils presented by natural catastrophes and the like,” Siano said.

During Hurricane Katrina, a category-5 storm, hit the Gulf Coast region, approximately 1,800 people were killed as a consequence to the storm. In addition, about $80 million of damage to business and residential concerns were visited upon the area. The storm, which gained worldwide attention, is considered to be the worst in U.S. history.

The Middletown Lions delegation departed New Jersey last weekend, and will be in the Gulf Coast region until about Oct. 6th. Siano said a press conference is scheduled for the Oct. 9th, at 7 p.m. at the New Jersey Blind Citizen’s Association, Burlington Avenue, in Leonardo.

For more information about the event, or to get more information about the Lions’ efforts to help Gulf Coast victims, call Siano at (732) 671-0589.